Middlesex County Official Plan

The Middlesex County Official Plan was approved with Ministry modifications on June 5, 2026. The Official Plan is a comprehensive planning document that outlines the long-term vision for Middlesex County. The Plan directs and guides the County in land use policy and physical planning on a broad basis. It establishes an upper-tier policy framework that provides guidance to local municipalities in the preparation of local official plans and zoning by-laws. The Plan sets a framework for coordination and cooperation amongst local municipalities and the County on planning and development issues that transcend municipal boundaries.

The County Official Plan contains policies dealing with issues of Provincial and County interest, including population, housing and employment projections, based on the 2024 Ministry of Finance projections. The Plan contains specific land use policies for Settlement Areas, Agricultural Areas, and Natural Environment Areas. It also provides a policy framework for issues such as Resource Management, Growth Management, and the provision of Physical Services, such as transportation facilities. It recognizes the planning powers and authorities vested in the local municipalities and therefore does not address in detail those planning matters which are most appropriately dealt with at the local level. The County Official Plan provides a framework for more detailed strategies, policies, and land use designations in local official plans.

Official Plan Update (2025-2026)

Middlesex County undertook an extensive review and update of the Official Plan to reflect changes in Provincial policy and align it with the renewed Middlesex County Strategic Plan. The update incorporates sound land use planning principles and ensures consistency with Provincial objectives related to growth management, housing, and employment forecasts. It also strengthens coordination between the County’s planning framework and local municipal official plans.

County Official Plan

The County’s Official Plan is a municipal policy document created under the Planning Act that sets out a land use policy vision based on long-term goals and objectives. The Plan provides a policy framework for topics such as resource management, growth management, and the provision of physical services by dealing with issues of Provincial and County interest. The Official Plan recognizes the planning powers and authorities vested in local municipalities and does not set out detailed local policies.

The Plan is Council's primary tool for making land use decisions and managing physical change and provides a way to evaluate and settle conflicting land uses while meeting local, County and Provincial interests. The Planning Act states that no public work shall be undertaken, and no by-law shall be passed, that does not conform to the Official Plan.

Over the next 30 years, it is expected that the County will grow at a faster rate than the previous 30 years with the population projected to increase to as many as 151,500 people by 2056, which represents an annual growth rate of 1.8%. Managing this growth while at the same time protecting agriculture and the natural environment is a key challenge.

Official Plan Review Process

The Official Plan Review involved a seven-phase process:

Phase 1: Project Initiation

Phase 1: Project Initiation – at the commencement of the Official Plan Update, Section 26 of the Planning Act requires that Council hold a special public meeting to discuss potential revisions to the Official Plan and to ultimately give direction to launch the Official Plan Update process. In accordance with Section 26 of the Planning Act, County Council directed staff to undertake an update to the Official Plan on January 14th, 2025.

Phase 2: Background Reports and Policy Formulation

Phase 2: Background Reports and Policy Formulation – a background and policy formulation process was undertook that included the completion of reports by topic area in support of the Official Plan Update. Topic areas considered as part of this exercise included: Growth and Development, Housing, Agriculture, and Economy.

Phase 3: Middlesex 2056 Engagement

Phase 3: Middlesex 2056 Engagement – the Public Engagement phase (‘Middlesex 2056’) included updated web content, social and traditional media messaging, outreach to commenting agencies, collaboration with local municipalities, Indigenous Community outreach, a community survey, the holding of stakeholder workshops, an Open House, and a Public Meeting.

Phase 4: Draft Official Plan Amendment Refinement

Phase 4: Draft Official Plan Amendment Refinement – in addition to consultation undertaken on topic specific areas, a Draft Working Copy Official Plan Amendment was completed for stakeholder, agency and public review. Revised documents were prepared based upon the comments received.

Phase 5: Finalize Official Plan Amendment

Phase 5: Finalize Official Plan Amendment – a finalized Proposed Official Plan Amendment was drafted based on the background reports and input received.

Phase 6: County Council Adoption of Official Plan Amendment

Phase 6: County Council Adoption of Official Plan Amendment – a final Official Plan Amendment No. 4 was adopted and submitted to the Province in accordance with the Planning Act.

Official Plan Amendment No. 4

Minister's Decision

Amendment No. 4 was approved by the Ministry of Municipal Affairs and Housing with Modifications on June 5, 2026.
Minister's Decision

Middlesex 2056 Consultation and Engagement Campaign

Consulting with people who live, work, or volunteer in the County was an integral part of the Official Plan Update.

In June 2025, Quarry Consulting presented an Engagement Summary Report to the Planning Advisory Committee. Additional consultation and statutory meetings took place in the Fall of 2025:

Background Information

Important background information, plans and studies that were considered during the Official Plan update process include:

Planning Advisory Committee Meeting Presentations

Planning Advisory Committee Meeting Minutes

Background Reports

For information on County Official Plan Amendment No. 3 (2021-2023), please visit: Official Plan Review (2021-2023)

Contact

For questions regarding the Official Plan, please contact:
Abby Heddle-Jacobs, Senior Planner (Policy & Special Projects)
Email: @email
Phone: 519-930-1014.